Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1887-02-10
The Situation.
THE PROPOSITION.

by the anti-caucus Democrats
To the Democratic members of the Leglsla-
ture who participated in the caucus of
January 10, g:
GENTLEMEN We the undersigned DEM
ocratic members of the Legislature in the
interest as W. believe, of the Democratic
party and with he purpose of bringing
about harmon, our ranks herewith sub
nit for your usideration the following
names of prominent gentlemen of the State
As proper candidates for United States Sen
ator, viz;
JAS. d. Armstrong, of Hampshire John
w. Harris, of Greenbrier; Z. B. Knight,
of Kanawha, Honor A. Holt, of Green
brier Okey Johnson, of Wood, A. F. Hay
mond. of Marion, Chas. Faulkner, of Berke-
lev. John Brannon, of Lewis, VIM. A.
Quarter, of Kanawha, G. w. Daily, OF
Mineral, Lewis S. Newman, of Marshall,
Frank Hereford, Monroe, John a. Preston,
of Greenbrier, James f. Brown, of Kama
wha
Please be kind enough to consider these
names and if you find in the list anyone
upon whom all can unite please COMMUNE
cate that fact to US by Thursday the 4th
day of February 1887, at 10 O'Clock a. m.'
and it will give Us pleasure to cooperate
with YOU in electing him;
= l.. Flournoy. Geo. Z. Price, b. W,
Price. Rufus Switzer, X. 7. Chew, Daniel
b. Lucas, \. L. Pueh, VIM. II. McClung,
J. NJ. Sydenstricker, B. s Chambers, G. W.
Kinsey, John j. Chipley.
THE REPLY.
The caucus Democrats met in conference
last evening and replied to the above by
the following;
To Hon. S L. Flournoy, and eleven 9th
ers, Democratic members of the Senate
and House of Delegates
GENTLEMEN: Your communication in
reference to the subject of the election of a
United States Senator has been received
and carefully considered You propose to
unite with us in the election of Senator
proyided we choose one from the list OF
names above mentioned We beg to state
in reply. that. in accordance with long
established custom of our party, caucus
of the Democratic members Of the Legisa-
ture was called to assemble on the evening
of January 18th, for the purpose of select
ing candidate to be voted for by the Dem
ocrats for United States Senator Ample
public notice was given of the time and
place Of meeting, and every Democratic
member was personally solicited to be pres
ent and participate The caucus was held
at the time and place named in the call
and thirty-seven members were present and
voting. The proceedings were open and
fair. The vote for candidate for Senator
was taken by roll call of all the Democrat
ic members of the Legislature. The result
was. on motion and without dissenting
voice, declared to be the unanimous act of
the caucus Abundant opportunity was
given for the presentation of the names
You now suggest, as well as the name of
any other citizen that any Democratic
member of the Legislature might desire to
present. The said caucus having been
called and held in accordance with uniform
custom and usage, three fourths less one
| half of one vote of those entitled TO par
ticipate having been present and all having
been invited to attend and take part, we re-
/ gard its decision as the decision of the Dem
ocratic members of the Legislature on this
question.
Furthermore your proposition limits the
right of selection to one Of the names be-
fore given. This we regard as undemocrat
lie and an innovation on all usages, customs
and precedents in our party. 1t is the
right and privilege of any citizen who is
legally qualified to hold an office to have
his name presented to and considered by
the electors in whom is lodged the authori'
ty to decide; and any proposition or deci-
sion abridging this right is .undemocratic
and tyranical We think there is no fair
way by which the wishes of the whole party
can be considered and determined except
by free caucus open to all Democratic
members as participants and to all legally
qualified Democratic citizens as candidates.
We sincerely regret it was not your judg-
ment and pleasure to unite with us in the
customary manner in selecting a candidate
for Senator, aud with equal sincerity we
express the nope that YOU may YET do so.
We feel that our action has been right and
in conformity with the established usage of
party whose fundamental principle is
that the will of the majority, fairly ascer-
tanned and expressed, shall control, and
that we cannot more highly honor our par
ty than by faithfully adhcring to that prin-
ciple
We must therefore, respectfully decline
your proposition.
Sigued-M. Gwinn, President, Peyton
Byrne, Secretary, J. B. Sommeryile, c. L.
Brown, J. H. Gettinger, f. NJ. McCallister,
~ Van Felt, J. W. McCreery, John D.
Sweeney, 4. r. Unger, B. H. Oxley, Jas